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Farmers concerned river conditions could cause flooding

Robert Perea
9:12 p.m. PDT August 19, 2014

A sandbar lies in the middle of the Walker River channel below the bridge on Miller Lane in Mason Valley. Some farmers are concerned that sediment in the river could cause flooding durng runoff next spring if the river channel isn’t cleaned out.(Photo: Keith Trout/Mason Vallley News)

High levels of sediment in the Walker River have hampered efforts by the federal watermaster to deliver water to Smith Valley and Mason Valley farmers, and some are worried that it could cause even greater problems, including flooding, when flows increase next spring.

Federal watermaster Jim Shaw told the Walker River Irrigation District board of directors at its Aug. 7 meeting that sediment is preventing river water from flowing into some ditches. In one case, Shaw said a farmer who ordered 4.5 acre feet of water to be delivered actually got less than half a foot by the time it got to the fields.

Smith Valley rancher Pete Fenili said conditions at the Yerington Weir are so bad that sand bars are causing the water to back up at the weir. He said the district needs to do something to clear out the river channel, or the river will flood, a sentiment echoed by director David Little.

"If we get a wet winter, Yerington is going to go under," Little said.

National Fish and Wildlife Walker Basin Restoration Program manager Joy Morris said the foundation has been working with Farr West Engineering and various ditch companies to address the problem, and is willing to continue funding cleanup projects.

However, she said the potential stumbling block is not funding but permitting. Morris said it is important to look at natural river functions and longer term functionality solutions, rather than just a temporary fix.

Fenili said the district needs to get landowners, the city of Yerington and Lyon County to join the effort, or it will have trouble getting necessary permits.

She said the district could have a representative from Farr West meet with the district.

Morris said NFWF is interested in continuing to work with the irrigation district and said if it's helpful, a representative could come to a meeting to discuss what it is doing with the ditch companies.